Imran Khan Clarifies Peaceful Protest Call Outside GHQ
During an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail, PTI founder Imran Khan clarified his stance regarding the protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ). He confirmed that he had called for a peaceful protest, which has been misconstrued as an admission or involvement in the events of May 9.
Imran Khan stated, “My call for a peaceful protest outside GHQ was portrayed as if I admitted to or was involved in the May 9 incidents. I have discussed the peaceful protest outside GHQ in three vlogs and mentioned it 12 times during police investigations.”
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He also highlighted the attacks on his residence on March 14 and an alleged assassination plot against him outside the Judicial Complex on March 18, claiming to have evidence for both.
“I instructed my party to protest peacefully outside GHQ and cantonments if the military or Rangers arrested me,” Khan added.
In response to a journalist’s query about the violence on May 9, despite the peaceful protest call, Khan argued that the violence was pre-planned. “They are not releasing CCTV footage because it would prove our innocence, showing faces other than ours,” he asserted.
Khan expressed his intention to take legal action regarding the missing CCTV footage from May 9 and criticized the government’s crackdown on social media, mentioning the arrest of 75-year-old cancer patient Raoof Hassan.
He accused the government of trying to eliminate PTI through the military and damaging its credibility post-budget. Khan defended social media as the voice of democracy and warned against equating it with digital terrorism. “Without criticism, institutions will collapse,” he warned.
When questioned about legislation during his tenure that restricted criticism of the military, Khan distinguished between criticism and disrespect. “No journalist left the country or was killed during our time. Even Pervez Musharraf’s liberal era was better than this,” he claimed.
Khan emphasized the need for open criticism of all institutions, including the military, asserting that the Pakistan Army belongs to the nation, not to specific political parties. He warned that the military’s alignment with the current government would damage its credibility and harm the country, economy, and democracy.
He attributed PTI’s current challenges to the establishment, noting that electoral obstacles were orchestrated with its involvement. “All corruption cases against Nawaz Sharif were suddenly dropped,” he pointed out.
In response to another query, Khan acknowledged past negotiations but said they yielded no results. He expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest against inflation and electricity bills.
Due to denied permissions for rallies in Islamabad and arrests of PTI workers, a major power show is planned in Swabi on August 5. This event aims to involve participants from across the country to avoid any chaos.
“Given the country’s situation, holding a rally in Swabi is appropriate. Any party with public support should demonstrate it in Swabi,” he concluded.
